Chapter Text
Title: Stay a Little Longer
Scene Type: Soft character moment / tension beneath stillness
Prompt:
They’re supposed to leave. The group is packing up camp. The spell is wearing off. The tavern is closing. They said they’d only stay an hour.
But they don’t move. They linger. One last drink, one more sentence, a slow adjustment of armor straps that don’t need adjusting. Maybe they just don’t want the moment to end.
Write a scene where staying becomes a silent choice. Let it say more than words. Maybe it’s romantic. Maybe it’s grief. Maybe it’s just quiet safety no one wants to break.
Optional Challenge:
Let neither character speak first. Let the silence do all the work.
How Kaya had ended up in the workshop in Whitestone Castle, she wasn't sure. Wandering late at night, restless had led her down a hall she hadn't been before, hearing a banging, and candlelight coming from a room that smelt of gunpowder.
She just stood watching Percy for a while, muttering to himself under his breath while making tiny adjustments to the weapon that sat on his table, picking up tools, squinting at tiny bullets that looked like were also crafted from his hands. And Kaya couldn't help but feel a little jealous that she wasn't that good with her hands. Her talent came from her words, and her music. She looked down at her lute, sadly, before propping it up outside of the room.
Vae'lora had talked a lot about her Uncle Percy on their travels, and for some reason, Kaya had found him fascinating. She couldn't believe that a man that looked so stoic and serious could have such a creative mind to create weapons and contraptions just from his imagination.
As one of the tools rolled out of his grasp and onto the floor she bounded forward, picking it up for him and placing it back on the counter. He raised his eyebrows at the unexpected interruption, before he nodded in thanks and continued tinkering.
It was a gun of sorts. It looked a little like one her uncle would probably wear on his belt as he stalked around the circus grounds - a warning to anyone who would try and double-cross him. A weapon that Kaya had been sure she would've been shot in the back with if he'd caught her sneaking away that night she got away.
She realised Percy's tinkering had stopped, and he was looking at her. She saw he needed another pair of hands to hold something in position, and she took a few cautious steps forward, hands shaking a little as she held a little piece of metal in place as Percy hammered a hole and indentations into it. She glanced at the clock in the room as she stoof there, realising it was the early hours of the morning. They'd been leaving early in the morning, but... She didn't want to leave. Not if she was being useful. She moved her hands once Percy lowered his hammer, passing it to Kaya to put back in the toolbox.
"Forgive me for sounding like your father, but isn't it past your bedtime?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. It was almost funny. He was old enough to be her father, after all. The human bard bit back a smirk, and shook her head.
"Bedtime? Who needs sleep. I live on sass and snacks alone." She chuckled.
"Ah, a human who lives on deflection and jokes. I wrote the playbook on that I'll have you know." He smirked, shaking his head for her. He gave her another few instructions to help - this time verbally. A quick "take this over there", or "bring this tool here", or "hold this until I say let go". And Kaya worked dilligently, her eyes lighting up to see the thing that had been a few clumps of metal slowly taking form. But the heat of the room from the warm metal left her feeling lethargic, but she pushed through, determined to help Percy with... whatever he was building.
"So what are you here for really, apart from to hand me bolts and tell jokes while getting insomnia?" He asked at last, his focus completely on a gear he was trying to wind up. Kaya frowned at his question, opening her mouth to tell another joke when he glanced up at her, giving her a look. She sighed, sitting on the stool beside him.
"I dunno. I just... wanted to do something useful for once. Instead of standing there and strumming my lute." She smiled sadly, passing him a cloth to wipe the grease from his fingers.
"I'm sure there's more to you than that." He murmured, staring at her.
Kaya laughed sadly, looking down. She remembered that all she's ever had was her music, and her ability to run away from her problems. And now? Now she was with a band of people who didn't need her. Not really. They were all strong and confident. Not a coward like hers.
"... Thank you for your company, Lord de Rolo. I should really try and get some sleep." She smiled tightly, nodding her head respectfully and darting down the hall, back to her room. Running away yet again.